A Tokyo government official said that negotiations were ongoing with China about extending the lease of 3 pandas in Ueno Zoological Gardens.
The zoo has 3 panda, the parent pandas Ri Ri & Shin Shin gave birth to Xiang Xiang in 2017, Xiang Xiang was initially to be returned to China in 2019, but Japan was able to negotiate an extension of her stay.
The 10-year leases of its parents will also run out in February 2021. This will be separate Xiang Xiang with the parents and an empty panda cage in the zoo.
“We have always known that she will have to return to China this year as she is needed for breeding, but we are hoping that the adult pandas will be able to stay longer.”
said Kay Sato, a spokeswoman for the zoo.
Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo recently told the press that her administration would do everything in its power to keep Ri Ri and Shin Shin.